Squeegee device

Abstract

The doctor device has a profile member pivotally mounted to a retaining member that is carried on a mount. Vertical movement of the mount causes angular displacement of the profile member thereby changing the material applicaton area disposed adjacent and upstream of the doctor. The doctor is either a doctor blade or roll doctor. In the case of a roll doctor, a receptacle is formed in the profile member and the roll doctor is magnetically retained with the receptacle. During application of a material to an application surface with the roll doctor, the roll doctor is magnetically attracted to the application surface by a second magnetic device located beneath the application surface or work surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. A squeegee apparatus for applying materials having varying viscosities to an application surface comprising at least one squeegee extending in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus, said squeegee being pressed onto the application surface by a magnetic force and having a profile member with a longitudinal axis extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the squeegee, and bearing means for articulating the profile member, at least one of said squeegee and said profile member being formed of magnetic material, and said bearing means being a pivot bearing means for pivotally supporting the profile member with respect to the squeegee apparatus such that the profile member is freely tiltable with respect to a position wherein the profile member is parallel to the application surface about at least one pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the profile member.   
     
     
       2. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot bearing means comprises a pivot bearing providing multiple degrees of freedom of movement so that the profile member is freely pivotable about said perpendicular pivot axis and at least one axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the profile member. 
     
     
       3. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot bearing means comprises a pivot bearing providing multiple degrees of freedom of movement of the profile member with respect to the squeegee apparatus so that the profile member is freely pivotable in all directions. 
     
     
       4. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pivot bearing means comprises a ball joint. 
     
     
       5. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: said profile member having opposite side ends with respect to its longitudinal axis; and   said pivot bearing means comprising arms having opposite ends that are fixed at one of their said ends to the profile member in the vicinity of the longitudinal side ends of the profile member and are movably supported in lateral link bearings at the other of their said opposite ends, respectively, in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the profile member.   
     
     
       6. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other of said ends of said arms are movably supported in the link bearings about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the profile member. 
     
     
       7. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising said profile member having a guide bearing path extending transversely with respect to the application surface, sand said pivot bearing means comprising roll bearings so that said profile member is positionable transversely and laterally with respect to the guide bearing path in positions parallel to the guide bearing path. 
     
     
       8. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guide bearing means for movably supporting said pivot bearing means on said squeegee apparatus so that said pivot bearing means is movable in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the profile member. 
     
     
       9. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said profile member has a center of gravity, and said pivot bearing means includes a pivot point that is in the vicinity of a plane that vertically intersects the longitudinal axis of the profile member when the profile member is parallel to the application surface, and which contains the center of gravity of the profile member. 
     
     
       10. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the profile member has a recess extending parallel to its longitudinal axis for rotatably supporting the squeegee that is pressed against the application surface. 
     
     
       11. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the profile member has a recess extending parallel to its longitudinal axis for rotatably supporting the squeegee that is pressed against the application surface. 
     
     
       12. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said squeegee includes a blade that contacts the application surface. 
     
     
       13. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said profile member has a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
       14. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said profile member has a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
       15. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said profile member has a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
       16. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said profile member has a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
       17. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said profile member has a row of electromagnets or permanent magnets extending along its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       18. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said profile member has a row of electromagnets or permanent magnets extending along its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       19. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said profile member has a row of electromagnets or permanent magnets extending along its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       20. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said profile member has a row of electromagnets or permanent magnets extending along its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       21. A squeegee apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said profile member has a row of electromagnets or permanent magnets extending along its longitudinal axis.